What’s the Difference Between Strength and Courage?

Courage comes from the French word “coeur” meaning heart. Being courageous means facing our fears and coming from our heart rather than our head. Its a place where we face our vulnerabilities and overcome them through compassion and love. As a child in Scotland I was told I had to be strong.

This isn’t just a family legacy, but a whole cultural one! We Scots are independent and strong. But we also have big hearts, often hidden behind the strong exterior. The Scottish Luckenbooth symbolizes our heart and our national pride…. But I’m getting sidetracked here!

Here is an inspirational poem about the difference between Strength and Courage to help you choose for yourself. If anyone knows the author, please let me know. Val x

The Difference Between Strength and Courage

It takes strength to be firm,
It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to stand guard,
It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to conquer,
It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain,
It takes courage to have doubt

It takes strength to fit in,
It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend’s pain,
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide your own pains,
It takes courage to show them.

It takes strength to endure abuse,
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone,
It takes courage to lean on another

It takes strength to love,
It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.

~ David L. Griffith

Whenever you feel you have neither, may the heart of the universe hug you today with its warmth, and love.

And may the wind carry a voice that tells you there is a friend sitting in another corner of the world wishing you well!

Beautiful poem Val, thanks for sharing. So often we honour and reward the strength in others and perhaps lose sight how brave we need to be to have the courage to face our greatest fears and vulnerabilities in life.

My husband and I are both of Scottish heritage so I really enjoyed this post for that and many other reasons as well. I am so glad that I found your blog! It is beautiful and inspiring. If people take the time to truly read your poems they can also learn from them.

I have about a pint of scotch heritage along with other European roots. The culture resonates with me, even the wailing dissonance of bagpipes! I’m glad to be connected with you through our blogs and a thread of common heredity!

Val, I thought I had to explore your previous posts… what a good idea: I’ve found this poem: it is so profound, “The Difference Between Strength and Courage”…
“It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.”…
It takes courage… to have courage.
Thanks for sharing such beautiful words! xxo

I enjoyed your poem and reflections on the word courage. I have written about strength myself through the perspective of guidance given in tarot and always enjoy diving deeper into the topic through others explorations. All good things to you!! Lisa

Thank you Val, for sharing many of your posts and your light and uplifting words.. You have given I am sure many the courage to voice their own thoughts and the strength to help them see they are never alone.. When you find your ‘Middle Ground’ and stand tall within your space.. 🙂

What a wonderful post Val and such a nice thing to say ‘Whenever you feel you have neither, may the heart of the universe hug you today with its warmth, and love.
And may the wind carry a voice that tells you there is a friend sitting in another corner of the world wishing you well!’.

When people told me that I had a lot of courage, I told them they were wrong.
because I am afraid of many things..
That was when I was told that courage is actually what it takes to move through the fear to get to the other side.. Wouldn’t need courage if there wasn’t a measure of fear and uncertainty.
If that is true, then yes–I am courageous (and I didn’t even know it). :).

What a wonderful poem. The inner journey is not without fear, but these dear words have helped us remember that courage is oh so beautiful. As for myself…I used to operate primarily from strength (I have a bit of the Scot in me too), but years and tears have helped me to be more open and soft with myself and others.

Beautiful poem! I also love the Scottish Luckenbooth, which I’ve never seen before. I am 1/4+ Scottish and have had the privilege of visiting the exact place where my 3-greats grandmother grew up. I appreciate all things Scottish!

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Val Boyko is originally from Scotland and came to the United States over 25 years ago.
At "Find Your Middle Ground" Val brings together her experience as a life coach and yoga teacher to inspire awakening to our inner wisdom.
This blog is a place of exploration and discovery as we all explore finding balance and peace, in the highs and lows of life 💛